This month the Shushuk Mela, meaning 鈥淒olphin Exhibition,鈥� celebrates Bangladesh鈥檚 large number of threatened dolphins. Sponsored by WCS鈥檚 Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project (BCPD), the event鈥檚 organizers will travel to the country鈥檚 coastal mangrove forest, visiting fishing communities to promote the conservation of the area鈥檚 many dolphins, whales, and porpoises. The Sundarbans mangrove forest lies along the edge of the Bay of Bengal, where the Padma River, a tributary of the Ganges, meets the sea. The area is one of few remaining hotspots for the rare Irrawaddy and Ganges River dolphins, which face extinction in most of their natural range. In 2008, WCS helped discover about 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins in the Sundarbans, the largest population of their kind. The BCPD works with local communities to help protect these cetaceans and others over the long term. 鈥淏y building a strong constituency of support for dolphin conservation that also incorporates human needs, efforts to save these iconic species have a genuine chance of success,鈥� said Brian D. Smith, director of WCS鈥檚 Asian Freshwater and Coastal Cetacean program. 鈥淲ith a successful effort, Bangladesh can serve as a critical safety net for cetaceans whose populations are disappearing elsewhere in Asia.鈥�More than 10,000 people attended the first Shushuk Mela held in Dhaka in 2008. For this month鈥檚 event鈥攔unning from the 15th to the 31st鈥攁 wooden vessel will visit communities nearby three proposed wildlife sanctuaries. The event organizers hope to raise awareness of how the region鈥檚 coastal mangroves help buffer the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels. Additionally, they are showing how monitoring the health of the area鈥檚 dolphins can serve as a sentinel for changing environmental conditions. On board the craft will travel life-size dolphin replicas, films, photographs, games, and educational materials promoting the protected areas. 鈥淭he enthusiasm demonstrated for cetaceans at the first Shushuk Mela was incredible,鈥� said Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur, BCPD鈥檚 education director. 鈥淲e expect even greater interest from fisherman living in local communities who consider these animals to be their companions on the river and at sea.鈥�
This month the Shushuk Mela, meaning 鈥淒olphin Exhibition,鈥� celebrates Bangladesh鈥檚 large number of threatened dolphins. Sponsored by WCS鈥檚 Bangladesh Cetacean Diversity Project (BCPD), the event鈥檚 organizers will travel to the country鈥檚 coastal mangrove forest, visiting fishing communities to promote the conservation of the area鈥檚 many dolphins, whales, and porpoises.
The Sundarbans mangrove forest lies along the edge of the Bay of Bengal, where the Padma River, a tributary of the Ganges, meets the sea. The area is one of few remaining hotspots for the rare Irrawaddy and Ganges River dolphins, which face extinction in most of their natural range. In 2008, WCS helped discover about 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins in the Sundarbans, the largest population of their kind. The BCPD works with local communities to help protect these cetaceans and others over the long term.
鈥淏y building a strong constituency of support for dolphin conservation that also incorporates human needs, efforts to save these iconic species have a genuine chance of success,鈥� said Brian D. Smith, director of WCS鈥檚 Asian Freshwater and Coastal Cetacean program. 鈥淲ith a successful effort, Bangladesh can serve as a critical safety net for cetaceans whose populations are disappearing elsewhere in Asia.鈥�
More than 10,000 people attended the first Shushuk Mela held in Dhaka in 2008. For this month鈥檚 event鈥攔unning from the 15th to the 31st鈥攁 wooden vessel will visit communities nearby three proposed wildlife sanctuaries. The event organizers hope to raise awareness of how the region鈥檚 coastal mangroves help buffer the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels. Additionally, they are showing how monitoring the health of the area鈥檚 dolphins can serve as a sentinel for changing environmental conditions. On board the craft will travel life-size dolphin replicas, films, photographs, games, and educational materials promoting the protected areas.
鈥淭he enthusiasm demonstrated for cetaceans at the first Shushuk Mela was incredible,鈥� said Elisabeth Fahrni Mansur, BCPD鈥檚 education director. 鈥淲e expect even greater interest from fisherman living in local communities who consider these animals to be their companions on the river and at sea.鈥�
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